Friday, May 4, 2012

Biographical Bonanza!

 A biography is a true story about a person's life.
Mrs. Ranney's Class has been reading  biographies  about
people who have made significant contributions to our world!




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We  have  each read a 
biography on our own.
Artists, inventors, statesman, 
composers, doctors,
aviators, astronauts, and pioneers 
in many fields 
are  among the amazing historical figures 
about whom we have read!

We researched by reading library books, as well as doing research using World Book Online.





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Now that you are an expert 
on your biography subject,
please leave  a comment as if you are that person!






Be sure to include at least 3 facts you learned. 
Be sure that your facts are written in bold!


Watch the comments to see if you can converse with another 
biography subject you may know!

(Family members: You may want to choose your own biography subject and join in the conversation!)

44 comments:

  1. Howdy all you students in Mrs. Ranney's Class,

    I'm Babe Didrikson, and everybody knows that I am the greatest athlete that ever lived...man or woman! Well, I was voted "Woman Athlete of the Half Century" by the Associated Press.

    I was born back in 1911, on June 26, in Port Arthur, Texas. Babe is a nickname that I got when I was little. The kids in my neighborhood dubbed me "Babe" after the great Babe Ruth because I once swatted FIVE home runs in one baseball game.

    Although I excelled at all sports and even won three medals in the 1932 Summer Olympics, my favorite sport was golf. I was so determined to keep playing golf, that I kept playing even after the doctor told me I had cancer.

    I understand that 44 years after I passed away, I was chosen as one of the top ten "Athletes of the Century." That really makes me smile because that's the goal I set for myself.

    Warmly,
    Babe

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,

    I'm Eleanor Roosevelt. I was born on October 11th, 1884. I was named Anna Eleanor, but my family called me Eleanor. When I was 10, sadly, my parents and only brother died. But then my very strict grandmother took care of me.
    Later in my life, I married Franklin D. Roosevelt on St. Pactrick's Day in 1905. Then we had six kids named: Anna Eleanor, James, Elliot, John, and two Franklin Delano Jr's. Later in our kids lives, two of them served in The House Of Representatives. James and one of our Franklin Delano Jr's.

    When my husband was elected as the 32nd president in November 1932, I thought he was the hardest working man in the world, but there may be another man that worked harder. As the "First Lady" I gave 350 press conferences and wrote many newspaper articles.

    After my husband died on April 12th 1945, I wrote many books, such as This Is My Story, Tomorrow Is Now,On My Own, and This I Remember.

    Sincerely,

    Eleanor★

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Eleanor,

      I am so glad to meet you! I have always admired you, and I have been so impressed with the work you did for needy children and for the rights of minorities and women.

      Please tell Hayley that she did a wonderful job using comparative adjectives and even typing them in bold using html code!

      Sincerely,
      Mrs. Ranney

      Delete
    2. Dear Mrs. Ranney,

      I'm so glad to meet you too! Hayley has told me all about you. I wish I had such a wonderful teacher when I was in third grade. I will certainly tell Hayley what an amazing job she did using comparative adjectives in bold.

      Sincerely,
      Eleanor

      Delete
  3. Dear Class,

    I am Jackie Robinson. I was born in 1919. I was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. I also played Minor Football. During World War ll, I served in the U.S. Army.

    In college I dropped out of UCLA. In 1947 I was named Rookie of the Year. In 1949 I was named National League MVP. In 1956, I won the Spingarn Metal. I was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

    Sadly on October 24, 1972 I passed away.

    Sincerely,
    Jackie Robinson

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Class,

    I was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on November 11, 1744. My father’s name is William Smith and my mother’s name is Elizabeth Quincy. I have one brother and three sisters. When I grew up I realized how unfair women were treated. I wanted equal rights for women, so I wrote a letter to John Adams, the second president of the United States. He is also my husband. Now today, women are treated equally partly because of my efforts.

    Regards,
    Abigail Adams

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mrs. Adams,
      It is so wonderful to hear from you. My students and I have recently studied about you and really appreciate your efforts in furthering the cause of women's rights.

      I understand that you were the first of the First Ladies to live in the White House. That must have been very exciting but difficult, since it was still under construction!

      Please let Sydney know that she wrote an excellent comment!

      Thanks again.
      Sincerely,
      Mrs. Ranney

      Delete
  5. Dear Class,

    I am Jackie Robinson. I was born in 1919. I was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. I also played Minor Football. During World War ll, I served in the U.S. Army.

    In college I dropped out of UCLA. In 1947 I was named Rookie of the Year. In 1949 I was named National League MVP. In 1956, I won the Spingarn Medal. I was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

    Sadly on October 24, 1972 I passed away.

    Sincerely,
    Jackie Robinson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mr. Robinson,
      I am so excited to hear from you. You are definitely an American sports hero and a pioneer in baseball!

      I was so impressed to learn that you even served our country during World War II. Thank you!

      Would you please tell us about the Springarn Medal? I'd like to hear more about it and what it is given for!

      Please let Josh and Dylan know how well they did on their comment!

      Sincerely,
      Mrs. Ranney

      Delete
    2. Dear Mrs. Ranney,

      The Spingarn Medal is awarded yearly by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for an outstanding achievement by a black American.

      Sincerely,
      Jackie Robinson

      Delete
  6. Dear Mrs.Ranney and Class,

    During spring break, I went to the historical Ronald Reagan Museum. First, I learned that he was a sports announcer. Then he became a great Hollywood actor.He even became governor of California! After that, he was the 40th president of the United States of America. Sadly, president Reagan died of a disease called Alzheimer's. He was one of the greatest presidents that served our nation.


    Your student,
    Gregory,

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Mrs.Ranney and class,


    I am Louis Braille and you know I invented books for the blind.I was born on January 4, 1809 I am proud of awards that are given every year to the people that help the blind called Louis Braille awards.



    Sincerely,
    Louis Braille (Arielle)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mr.Braille,

      I am Helen Keller. I would like to thank you so much for inventing books for the blind. I read many books in braille, and enjoyed them very much. To know me better, here are some facts about me: I was born in a small town in Alabama called Tuscubia on June 27, 1880. I was almost 2 when I got sick. Over time I got better, but the sickness left me deaf and blind.I could not talk or communicate to others. When I was 7 I met Annie Sullivan who changed my life. She taught me everything I need to know. People remember me for my courage, kindness, and helpfulness.

      Sincerely,

      Helen Keller ♥ (Hayley)

      Delete
  8. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,

    I'm Queen Elizabeth, I was once the queen of England. I was crowned queen of England in 1559. One of the things I did while I was queen was establishing a protestant church. I died in 1603 from terrible disease.

    Warmest regards,
    Queen Elizabeth ♥ ♔

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dear Mrs. Ranney and class,

    I'm Thomas Edison. In 1879, I invented the light bulb. When I was a teenager, I worked as a telegraph operator. I died on October 18, 1931.

    Best wishes,
    Thomas Edison

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Thomas Edison,

      I'm Frederick Douglass. What is an light bulb? How does it work? I'm asking you these questions because they weren't made when I was alive.

      Sincerely,
      Frederick Douglass

      Delete
  10. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,

    I'm Charles Lindbergh, I was a spectacular pilot. I was the first pilot to fly from New York to Paris without stopping. I once won the German Medal of Honor for my flying. I also won the Pulitzer Prize for my book, "The Spirit of St. Louis".

    Sincerely,
    Charles Lindbergh

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Mrs. Ranney's class,

    I'm Frederick Douglass. In 1826, when I was 8, I was determined to read and write. In 1845, I wrote an autobiography called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
    Also I met with Abe Lincoln during the Civil War, and we discussed freeing slaves. I even had a newspaper called the North Star. In 1895, I died when I was 77.

    Sincerely,
    Frederick Douglass

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Fredrick,

      It's Harriet Tubman your good friend. I think it is amazing that you taught yourself how to read and write while being a slave.

      I have a question for you. How did you feel when you were talking with Abraham Lincoln?

      Your Good Friend,
      Harriet

      Delete
  12. Dear Mrs.Ranney,

    I'm Milton Hershey, and I made up Hershey's Milk Chocolate. My first job was being a candy seller. Then I started to make caramels, and I called my caramel company Lancaster Caramel Company. In 1900 I started to make Hershey's Milk Chocolate.
    Sincerely,
    Milton Hershey (Francesca)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Milton Hershey,

      Thank you for inventing Hershey's chocolate. What year did you invent Hershey's chocolate? Well, I have to go now because I'm starving. I think I will have some Hershey's chocolate.

      Best wishes,
      Thomas Edison

      Delete
  13. Dear Mr. Douglas,

    I am Susan B. Anthony. I know you often came to my house for meetings. I helped with women's rights. In 1872, I was arrested for voting.

    I also helped free slaves. Did you know I became president for the Woman Suffrage Association?


    I hope I get to know you better.

    Sincerely,
    Susan B. Anthony

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Susan B. Anthony,

      I didn't know that you became president for the Woman Suffrage Association.
      What year did you become president for the Woman Suffrage Association? What year were you born?

      Glade to meet you,

      Frederick Douglass

      Delete
    2. Dear Frederick,

      I was born in 1820.
      The year I became president was 1890.

      What year did you learn to read and write?

      Happy I know you,
      Susan B. Anthony

      Delete
  14. Dear Mrs. Ranney and class,
    My name is Amelia Earhart. I was the first woman to pilot over the Atlantic Ocean by myself. I love adventures. When I was ten years old I saw my first flying stunt show. I got my pilot license when I was twenty-five years old. I tried to fly around the world, but I vanished.
    Sincerely,
    Amelia Earhart

    ReplyDelete
  15. Dear Mrs.Ranney and class,

    I am Alexander Graham Bell.I was born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh,Scotland. My greatest invention was the telephone, but I had many other great ideas.
    Since I was little, sounds always interested me. I graduated high school when I was only 14 years old and began teaching at the age of 16. I received a gold medal at the U. S Centennial celebration.
    I was constantly working and my body could not keep up with my mind,therefore I was very sick. I died on August 2,1922. My ideas have changed the modern world we live in today.

    Sincerely,
    Alexander (Eve)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adar (John F. Kennedy)May 15, 2012 at 4:06 PM

      Dear Mr. Graham Bell,

      I am John F. Kennedy 35th president. Thank you very much for inventing the telephone. I have a question about you, what were your other inventions?

      A thankful good bye,
      John F. Kennedy

      Delete
  16. Dear Students of Mrs. Ranney's class,

    My name is Harriet Tubman the conductor of the underground railroad. I was born in March 1820, in Maryland. I grew up as a slave who worked for white people. We were owned and were treated very badly. A person called the overseeker watched us and whipped us if we weren't working hard enough. When I was older I escaped to the north and helped other people escape too. I died on March 23, 1913, and received many awards after my death.

    I must leave I have to catch my train.

    Goodbye for Now,
    Harriet

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello Mrs. Ranney's Class,

    I am Albert Einstein. I was born in ulm, Germany on March 14,1879. When I was a child I was always curious to understand the mysteries of science, I also took music lesson, I played both violin and piano. I was famous for the Special Theory Relativity equation "e=mc2". I was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. I died on April 18, 1955.

    Sincerely,

    Albert Einstein (Alex)

    ReplyDelete
  18. George WashingtonMay 10, 2012 at 5:53 PM

    Dear Class,
    I am George Washington. I was born on February 22, 1732 .
    As you probably know I was the 1st President of the U.S.A.
    I was the General of the Army in the Revolutionary War.
    Sadly, I died in 1799 the year before the 1800's!

    The Father Of Our Country,
    George Washington

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear George Washington,
      I'm Benjamin Franklin and I was not presidnt of the U.S.A. I did many interesting things in my life. I helped write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I believe we were friends since your 9years older than me.

      Delete
  19. Dear Mrs. Ranney's Class,

    I am Annie Sullivan, and I am Helen Keller's teacher. Helen is the first deaf, blind, and mute person to graduate college.

    I was born on April 14, 1866. After I graduated from the Perkins Institution for the Blind , I started teaching Helen Keller. Helen had many tantrums when I was teaching her because she had been spoiled by her parents for the first 7 years of her life.

    I “spelled” letters by doing sign language repeatedly into Helen's palm trying to make her understand that sign language was not just random hand movements, but they had special meanings.

    Finally, she was able to understand that the hand movements were words that helped her to communicate.


    Regards,

    Annie Sullivan

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dear class,
    My name is Claude Monet, and I am a very famous. I was born on Nov.14, 1840. I invented paintings called "Inpessionissm".My paintings are in various museums like the Louvre in Paris . I died in 1926 .

    A la votre (cheers),
    Claude Monet (Melissa)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,
    My name is Benjamin Franklin and I did many important and interesting things in my life even though I ran away from home when I was a teenager. I was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America.
    In 1731, I stared the first circulating library in the colonies. I helped write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I died in 1790, of old age.Looking down, I'm amazed how far the world has come with using electricity since I first discovered lighting was electricity

    With good wishes,
    Ben Franklin

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Mrs. Ranney's Class,

    I am George Washington Carver, andI was born into slavery in Diamond, Missouri in 1860. I am famous for being honored for my research of peanuts by the University of of Rochester in New York. I was awarded the Roosevelt Medal for my service in science in 1939.

    Sincerely,
    George Washington Carver

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,

    I am Neil Armstrong. I was born on August 5, 1930. you already know I was the first person to set foot on the moon. I was very famous for setting a record reaching an altitude of 207,500 feet at a speed of 3,989 miles per hour. I graduated from Purdue University in 1955.In 1964, I won a lot of medals like a Gold Star, Korean Service Medal, and an Engagement Star.


    The first person on the moon,

    Neil Armstrong

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear Mrs. Ranney and class,

    I’m Eleanor Roosevelt. I was born in 1884. At age 8, I lost my mother to Diphtheria. Later, my dad died while hunting wild animals. I went to live on New York City's 37th Street with my aunt and uncle. When I grew up and married Franklin Delano Roosevelt, I became a First Lady of the United States of America.

    Bye for now,
    Eleanor Roosevelt

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear Mrs. Ranney and Class,

    My name is Abraham Lincoln. I was born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. I became the 16th president of the United States of America when I was 51 years old. In 1863, I issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in the southern states. It was a pleasure sharing with you.
    Sincerely,
    Abraham Lincoln (Elijah)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hello ladies and gentlemen of Mrs. Ranney's class,

    I am John F. Kennedy the 35th president of the U.S.A. I was born on 1917, and died 1963. As a kid I liked to read and write. As for college, I went to Harvard. Before I was a president, I was a congressman. When I was a president, One of my most famous speeches was "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can do for your country." I also inspired Neil Armstrong to be first on the moon.

    From most beloved,
    John F. Kennedy(Adar)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dear Mrs. Ranney’s Class,

    I am the 5th president, James Monroe. I was born on April 28th, 1758. As a child, I walked to my elementary school, Parson Campbell. After that I went to the College of William Mary. Because the Revolutionary war started, I enlisted in the army and never received my college diploma. Then I became the 5th president. I wrote the Missouri Compromise which represents that no slavery can be happening in the western part of the U.S.A, and I wrote the Monroe Doctrine which also tells that no European country can make colonies in North America and our Southern neighbors.

    Farewell citizens,

    James Monroe (Gregory)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Mrs Ranney and class,

    Greetings class, My name is Ronald Reagan, and I was the 40th President of the United States I was born in Tampico, Illinois I died on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93,I am burried at The Reagan Presidential Library in Simi, California.

    Best Wishes
    Ronald Reagan

    ReplyDelete
  29. Dear Mrs. Ranney and class,

    I am Jane Goodall. I was born in London, England, on August 3, 1934. When I was a little girl, I hid in the chicken coop for five hours until an egg came out of the chicken. That was how I first became interested in animals. I went to college to become an ethologist. I also hid in a jungle for almost a year watching chimpanzees.

    Love,
    Jane Goodall (Grace)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dear Jane Goodall,
    I heard up in heaven you studied chimps.
    That is amazing to stay in a jungle for about a year.
    It is good to be interested in animals.

    The father of our country,
    George Washington (Andrew)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Dear George Washington,

    Charles Lindbergh speaking. How does it feel to be the first president of the United States? Were you scared in the Revolutionary War? What did you do to become president?
    Thank you for starting our Country.

    Sincerely,
    Charles Lindbergh

    ReplyDelete

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:) Mrs. Ranney